Kansas City Royals at Colorado Rockies

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
KC	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
COL	1	0	0	1	0	6	0	0	—	8	9	0

Seth Lugo (4-6, 4.23 ERA) took the ball for Kansas City looking to salvage the finale, opposite Kyle Freeland (2-10, 7.14 ERA), who entered owning one of the ugliest ERAs of any rotation regular in baseball. On paper it looked like a mismatch in the Royals' favor.

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FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Royals(46-66)

LLLWL

1

-1.5+170+115o12.5+141

Rockies(44-67)

WWLLL

8

+1.5-170-117u12.5-138

Best BetRoyals -104

Postgame

Kansas City lost 8-1 and never threatened after Colorado's six-run sixth — the underdog value we saw in Lugo's form never showed up against a Rockies lineup that's been rolling. The plus-money price looked fine on paper; the actual game went the other way entirely.

Pregame

Kansas City's the moneyline pick here even on the road, and the price near even money reflects how thin this line actually is between two bad teams. Freeland's been unwatchable all season, and until he shows something different, backing the team NOT trotting him out there is the safer bet, even banged up.

Kansas City is openly selling. General manager J.J. Picollo shipped outfielder Lane Thomas to Atlanta on Saturday, and franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been sidelined with a back injury, though he's targeting Tuesday's series opener against the Twins for his return. That's a lineup already missing Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia getting thinner by the day, even as the board still gave the Royals a near coin-flip price to win outright.

Seth Lugo

(5-7)·4.59 ERA

Jul 28 @ Twins

ND

6.0IP

1ER

2K

2BB

84P

08/02 Lineup

Kyle Freeland

(4-10)·6.27 ERA

Jul 26 @ Brewers

L

5.1IP

5ER

2K

1BB

87P

08/02 Lineup

Colorado, meanwhile, is just as far out of the race but riding a little momentum. The Rockies rolled Kansas City 12-6 on Saturday and handed shortstop duties to debutant Cole Carrigg, a small jolt of energy for a club that's lost as much as anyone in the National League this year.

Kansas City Royals

(46-66)

Aug 2L@ Rockies6-12

Aug 1L@ Rockies1-3

Jul 30L@ Twins3-4

Jul 29W@ Twins4-0

Jul 28L@ Twins2-3

Colorado Rockies

(44-67)

Aug 2Wvs Royals12-6

Aug 1Wvs Royals3-1

Jul 29L@ Padres1-3

Jul 29L@ Padres7-8

Jul 26L@ Brewers2-11

Kansas City had dropped 4 of its previous 5 heading in, with the only win a shutout of Minnesota sandwiched between losses. Colorado's own stretch was uglier for longer, but the Rockies flipped the switch right as the Royals arrived, winning consecutive games for the first time in weeks.

Kansas City Royals

(14)

• 10-Day-ILMaikel Garcia (3B) — Garcia (hand) is scheduled to see a hand specialist next week, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.07/31
• 10-Day-ILBobby Witt Jr. (SS) — Witt (back) is on track to return to the Royals for Tuesday's series opener against the Twins, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.07/31
• 10-Day-ILVinnie Pasquantino (1B) — Pasquantino (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.07/29
• 15-Day-ILLuinder Avila (SP) — Avila (5-4) took the loss against Colorado on Saturday, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings.08/02
• 15-Day-ILBeck Way (RP) — The Royals placed Way on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with back spasms.07/28
• 15-Day-ILConnor Seabold (RP) — The Royals placed Seabold on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right lat strain.07/01
• 60-Day-ILStephen Kolek (SP) — Kolek will get a second opinion on his right forearm Tuesday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILNick Mears (RP) — Mears (shoulder/lat) began throwing from 60 feet Monday, MLB.com reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILKris Bubic (SP) — Bubic (elbow/shoulder) began a throwing progression Friday with 30 throws from 45-to-60 feet, MLB.com reports.07/25
• 60-Day-ILCarlos Estevez (RP) — Estevez (shoulder) started a throwing program Friday, per MLB.com.07/18
• 60-Day-ILCole Ragans (SP) — Ragans underwent UCL repair surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.07/02
• 60-Day-ILJonathan India (2B) — no06/04
• 60-Day-ILJames McArthur (RP) — McArthur (elbow) underwent surgery Friday to help combat continued soreness and inflammation, MLB.com reports.05/25
• 60-Day-ILAlec Marsh (SP) — The Royals placed Marsh (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08

Colorado Rockies

(10)

• 15-Day-ILJeff Criswell (RP) — The Rockies recalled Criswell from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.07/18
• 15-Day-ILBlas Castano (RP) — Castano (pectoral) is expected to begin a throwing program next week, MLB.com reports.07/03
• 15-Day-ILJaden Hill (RP) — Hill (shoulder) resumed playing catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.07/02
• 60-Day-ILJose Quintana (SP) — Quintana (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen session during the week of Aug. 3, MLB.com reports.08/01
• 60-Day-ILChase Dollander (SP) — Dollander underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow Monday, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.06/23
• 60-Day-ILWelinton Herrera (RP) — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Monday that Herrera (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL and will miss the remainder of the season, Jack Janes of MLB.com reports.06/02
• 60-Day-ILMcCade Brown (SP) — Brown (shoulder) had been scheduled to throw a live bullpen session this weekend, MLB.com reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILRJ Petit (RP) — The Rockies transferred Petit (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILPierson Ohl (RP) — The Rockies placed Ohl (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILKris Bryant (DH) — Bryant said Tuesday that the ongoing pain in his back continues to prevent him from participating in baseball activities, though he's still consulting with doctors and trainers for potential rehab options, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08

Both training rooms are crowded. Kansas City is still waiting on Cole Ragans (elbow surgery) and Kris Bubic to work back from long-term arm issues, while Colorado is without Jose Quintana, Chase Dollander and Kris Bryant for the foreseeable future. Neither club is getting reinforcements before rosters expand in September.

The six-run sixth was the whole ballgame — Kansas City managed exactly one run on the day and never threatened to answer. For a Royals team that's already selling off pieces and waiting on its best player to get healthy, it was the kind of afternoon that's become depressingly familiar in Denver this weekend.